The Sinclair QL Forum

Popcorn and fireworks ready for Wednesday Sir!

Drumroll.........

That feeling when you get out your PLCC-20 to DIP-20 adapter to program a GAL, and it's..... DEFECTIVE. And you look online, and you could have one tomorrow, but it'll be $150, plus $40 shipping. Or you could order one from China, but it'll be 21+ days.

So you buy a PCB printer CNC milling machine. And it comes, and you assemble it. Because you're happy to spend $250 to solve a $5 problem, just because you don't want to wait. Well, it does also give me the capability to quick prototype 2-layer PCBs. And it has an optional laser head, so I can also laser develop coated PCBs then etch them.

But yes, I built a robot, just so I could test things for you guys!

That cost $250! I want one...

Today was a deeply frustrating day, characterised by failed programing of a group of GALs. I have found the cause of the problem and ordered a part that should resolve it (and a few other parts that could resolve it in different ways too, just for thoroughness.)

Friday and Saturday morning are going to be VERY busy!

So Dave, did it all pan-out ready for announcement on Saturday night?

Unfortunately, I was late joining the on-line chat, so may have missed your next big thing

Yes. The announcement went smoothly.

Right now I'm assembling a test board to test a particular aspect of a behavior we're seeing.... Fun times.

I announced a new design 4MB RAM expansion with through connector for the BBQL. It achieves this by replacing the internal CPU with an external 68008FN10 with two extra address lines. Nasta designed the custom logic, which allows mirroring of most internal memory to provide a useful speed improvement. It requires Minerva. If you do not have Minerva, we will include it free.

It's just undergoing testing/revisions right now.

It will be £79. General availability around 4 weeks?

Now that is COOOOL!

A new Dave/Nasta production - two of my favourite HW gurus! Can't wait to see the full specs.

I just want to mention how useful the miniplane has been in testing the 4MB RAM card. I have full access to all the J1 connector pins. I can put the logic analyser on any bus signal and not have to have clips all over the place!
Go easy! That's a very hacked around and twice rebuilt board - I used it to test the regulator to destruction. It actually prompted me to reposition C5, the 5v side electrolytic, to reduce its temperature. I figure we're on year 34 of using QLs, and this part will need a life in that same timescale. Getting it down from 60C to 40C changes the expected life from 3,000 hrs to 67,882 hours. Yes, they have calculators for that! Current temp is 52C for a life of 29,547 hrs.

On the production boards, the GALs will be socketed. The CPU probably will be too.